Oliver Saunders advises on complex re/insurance coverage issues and regularly acts for re/insurers in mediation, arbitration and Commercial Court litigation. His experience spans most classes of direct insurance together with both facultative and treaty reinsurance (both in the live and run off sectors). He has previously undertaken a secondment to a leading Lloyd's Syndicate, advising the Claims Department on claims arising across all lines of London market business.
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
EXPERIENCE
Oliver's recent experience includes:
Advising a market leading Lloyd’s aviation re/insurer in relation to its Russia/Ukraine conflict exposures in the UK, US and Ireland (both Contingent and Operator).
Advising a Continental Company Reinsurer in connection with a claim brought by it against a Retrocessionaire concerning underlying UK retail business losses.
Drafting policy wordings (and associated documents subject to SAMA compliance) on behalf of reinsurers in relation to (fronted) policy wordings concerning the NEOM project in Saudi Arabia.
Defending a Retrocessionaire under a performance bond retrocession contract in relation to a large infrastructure / construction project in Abu Dhabi subject to insolvency.
Defending reinsurers in relation to significant Covid-19 claims presented to various property and travel: CAT XL; Per Risk; and Stop Loss, treaties.
Advising insurers in relation to their inwards claims in connection with Covid-19, including as a member of the Property Insurance Claims Group (a sub-group of the Lloyd's Market Association).
Drafting a high profile and unique reinsurance contract on behalf of the Lloyd's market to protect against a major loss event, which provided coverage of GBP1.25bn (GBP600. excess of GBP650m).
Advising a large UK insurer in its claim on reinsurers related to US mesothelioma and welding rod fume related losses dating back to the early 1980s.
Acting on a GBP60m claim on a Contractors’ All Risks insurance policy in relation to the construction of one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects of the last decade.
Advising insurers in connection with a claim brought by a well-known athlete under a disability income insurance policy.
Advising a Lloyd’s syndicate in relation to aviation claims related to the loss of aircraft in Libya.
Advising reinsurers in relation to both their inwards claims and outwards collections in relation to the FIFA bribery and corruption scandal.
Defending a Bermudan headquartered run-off specialist against a Part 8 claim commenced following the acquisition of Lloyd's Syndicate 1110 in respect of alleged liabilities concerning earlier Years of Account. Reported decision: Prosight Global, Inc. v Randall & Quilter II Holdings Limited, Randall & Quilter Underwriting Management Holdings Limited [2021] EWHC 228 (Comm).
Advising on a Part VII transfer: Reported decision: Enstar (2017) (Bosworth, Knapton, Marlon, Mercantile, Unionamerica into River Thames).
Defending a Lloyd’s reinsurance broker against an approx. GBP20m claim. Reported decision: Equitas v Walsham Bros. [2013] EWHC 3264 (Comm).
